Cons

Not all rooms have mini-fridges

The area west of the hotel is not the nicest

Bottom Line

The TRYP might be part of a large chain (it is owned by Wyndham), but there are few elements here that scream cookie-cutter. Spacious rooms with tons of fun details and modern technology; a solid Mediterranean restaurant; a modern fitness center, and free Wi-Fi attract a varied crowd of families, groups, and business travelers. There are a wide range of room types -- including Family Rooms that can sleep up to eight guests, and Fitness Rooms with exercise bikes -- and the location within walking distance of Times Square is convenient for tourists.

Oyster Hotel Review

Scene

A chain hotel with a fun design and a solid Mediterranean restaurant

With a fun design, tons of details, and a casual vibe, the TRYP is not your typical chain hotel. The lobby is bright and spacious, with colorful decor and a sitting area adjacent to the bar. Rooms are equally attractive, with funky wallpaper, accent walls, and reclaimed wood floors. Plus, there’s a room type for almost every type of traveler: rooms with bunk beds, with 3D TVs, with exercise bikes…

As a nod to the TRYP’s past (it used to be part of a Spanish hotel chain until the parent company sold it to the Wyndham group in 2010), the restaurant offers a tapas menu with traditional Spanish dishes and a few items of American comfort food. It is also a popular spot during happy hour -- which lasts here until well after dinner -- with creative cocktails in a laid-back atmosphere great for unwinding.

The hotel is popular with families due to its spacious rooms with bunk beds, but its location a short walk from the Javits Convention Center and its great perks (free Wi-Fi, a well-equipped fitness center, free use of the business center) make it a great pick for business travelers as well.

Location

On a quiet block within walking distance of Times Square and public transportation

The TRYP New York City Times Square South is significantly outside the flashing ad space in Times Square, on a dull, but not unsafe, block just north of Penn Station. It is far enough from the more touristy areas to feel quiet and less crowded, but is close enough to get there on foot. Its location within walking distance of attractions and many subway lines makes it a good pick for business and leisure travelers alike.

The property is a few blocks west of great shopping, but the area’s dining scene is a little unexciting, with mostly fast food joints catering both to the corporate offices and to travelers on their way to or from Penn Station. For better options, walk south to Chelsea neighborhood.

35-minute drive to LaGuardia Airport

45-minute drive to JFK Airport

45-minute drive to Newark Airport

4-minute walk to Penn Station

9-minute walk to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

11-minute walk to Times Square

13-minute walk to the Empire State Building

13-minute walk to Bryant Park and the New York Public Library

7-minute subway ride to Central Park

13-minute subway ride to the Museum of Modern Art (the "MoMA")

14-minute subway ride to Rockefeller Center

15-minute subway ride to the American Museum of Natural History

20-minute subway ride to Wall Street

27-minute subway ride to the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Rooms

Spacious and contemporary, with fun details and modern technology

The highlight of this hotel is the myriad room types it offers: Family Rooms with bunk beds and a wet bar; Samsung Experience Rooms with 60-inch flat-screen 3D TVs; Fitness Rooms with exercise bikes and workout clothes -- the list goes on. All rooms are equipped with the same great standard amenities, including Keurig coffeemakers, iPod docks, and free Wi-Fi, and have a cool design details such as reclaimed wood floors, funky wallpaper, accent walls, and headboards with phrases about New York ("The city that never sleeps," "New York is the biggest collection of villages in the world").

Family

Family Rooms can sleep up to eight guests.

Family Rooms feature one set of bunk beds, a double pull-out couch, and two queen beds or a king. They also offer a wet bar with an empty mini-fridge, two bathrooms, two flat-screen TVs, and a small dining table.

For smaller families, the Premium Rooms are the best bet. They feature wet bars with empty mini-fridges, a double pull-out couch in an area separated from the main room by a half-wall, and one full bathroom.

Samsung Rooms feature a king bed, a double pull-out couch and one set of bunk beds, plus a 60-inch flat-screen 3D TV and 3D glasses, Smart TV capability, a Blu Ray player, and a popcorn maker.

Food

A casual tapas restaurant

The Gastro Bar at 35th Street is a casual spot offering a great selection of traditional Spanish tapas and a few comfort food items. It is open for all three meals, and offers cocktails until before midnight.

Services

The hotel features its own social network

Free Wi-Fi throughout

The Lobby Friend Social Network allows guests to interact online during their stay.

Bottom Line

The TRYP might be part of a large chain (it is owned by Wyndham), but there are few elements here that scream cookie-cutter. Spacious rooms with tons of fun details and modern technology; a solid Mediterranean restaurant; a modern fitness center, and free Wi-Fi attract a varied crowd of families, groups, and business travelers. There are a wide range of room types -- including Family Rooms that can sleep up to eight guests, and Fitness Rooms with exercise bikes -- and the location within walking distance of Times Square is convenient for tourists.